Navigation device, navigation method, and program

ABSTRACT

A navigation apparatus includes: a route acquiring unit that acquires a route that connects a departure place and a destination, the route including a plurality of section routes for which different kinds of transportations are used; a guiding unit that performs a guidance based on the route acquire by the route acquiring unit; and a guidance controller that receives an instruction whether to perform the guidance for each of the section routes, and controls the guiding unit to perform the guidance for a section route for which an instruction to perform the guidance is received.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus, a navigationmethod, and a program for guiding a user based on a route.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, navigation apparatuses such as a car navigationapparatus have a function of searching for routes from a departure placeto a destination. Such navigation apparatuses execute a process fordisplaying searched routes on maps to be displayed on a display screenor a process for giving voice guidance about turning directions or thelike to users so as to guide the users based on the searched routes.

Recently, portable navigation apparatuses have been proposed (see, forexample, Patent Literature 1). In a portable information devicedisclosed in Patent Literature 1, users input information about adeparture place, boarding stations, trains to use, stations to get off,and a destination, so that a route search process for searching for theroutes from the departure place to the boarding stations, and the routesfrom the stations to get off to the destination is executed.

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H9-115086

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

In the conventional car navigation apparatuses, however, the mainfunction is to guide running automobiles along routes, and the guidancecontinues from the departure place to the destination unless theguidance is canceled by an instruction.

When such a technology of providing guidance based on routes is appliedto the portable navigation apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1,the users are guided along routes including a departure place, boardingstations, trains to use, stations to get off, and a destination. Since,however, the guidance is not always necessary in all sections, it issometimes unnecessary to provide voice guidance or the like depending oncircumstances.

The present invention has been achieved in order to solve the aboveproblems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide anavigation apparatus, a navigation method, and a program that canprovide optimal guidance when plural kinds of transportation means areused and the guidance is provided along a route from a departure placeto the destination.

MEANS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS

To solve the above problems and to achieve the goal, a navigationapparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes aroute acquiring unit that acquires a route that connects a departureplace and a destination, the route including a plurality of sectionroutes for which different kinds of transportations are used; a guidingunit that performs a guidance based on the route acquired by the routeacquiring unit; and a guidance controller that receives an instructionwhether to perform the guidance for each of the section routes, andcontrols the guiding unit to perform the guidance for a section routefor which an instruction to perform the guidance is received.

A navigation apparatus according to another aspect of the presentinvention includes a route acquiring unit that acquires a route thatconnects a departure place and a destination, the route including afirst section-route for which a first transportation is used and asecond section-route for which a second transportation is used; aguiding unit that performs a guidance based on the route acquired by theroute acquiring unit; and a guidance controller that receives aninstruction whether to perform the guidance for the first section-route,and controls the guiding unit to perform the guidance for a sectionroute for which an instruction to perform the guidance is received,whereas not to perform the guidance for the second section-route.

A navigation method according to still another aspect of the presentinvention includes acquiring a route that connects a departure place anda destination, the route including a plurality of section routes forwhich different kinds of transportations are used; receiving aninstruction whether to perform the guidance for each of the sectionroutes; and performing the guidance for a section route for which aninstruction to perform the guidance is received.

A navigation method according to still another aspect of the presentinvention includes acquiring a route that connects a departure place anda destination, the route including a first section-route for which afirst transportation is used and a second section-route for which asecond transportation is used; receiving an instruction whether toperform the guidance for the first section-route; and performing theguidance for a section route for which an instruction to perform theguidance is received, whereas not to perform the guidance for the secondsection-route.

A program according to still another aspect of the present inventioncauses a computer of a navigation apparatus including a guiding unitthat performs a guidance based on a route to function as a routeacquiring unit that acquires a route that connects a departure place anda destination, the route including a plurality of section routes forwhich different kinds of transportations are used; and a guidancecontroller that receives an instruction whether to perform the guidancefor each of the section routes, and controls the guiding unit to performthe guidance for a section route for which an instruction to perform theguidance is received.

A program according to still another aspect of the present inventioncauses a computer of a navigation apparatus including a guiding unitthat performs a guidance based on a route to function as a routeacquiring unit that acquires a route that connects a departure place anda destination, the route including a first section-route for which afirst transportation is used and a second section-route for which asecond transportation is used; and a guidance controller that receivesan instruction whether to perform the guidance for the firstsection-route, and controls the guiding unit to perform the guidance fora section route for which an instruction to perform the guidance isreceived, whereas not to perform the guidance for the secondsection-route.

EFFECTS DUE TO THE INVENTION

The navigation apparatus according to the present invention provides anoptimal guidance when guiding a user along a route from a departureplace to a destination using plural kinds of transportation means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a configuration of a network systemincluding a navigation apparatus according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a procedure of acquiring route searched resultsfrom a navigation server by the navigation apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an example of the route searched results displayed on thenavigation apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process procedure for guidance or the likebased on a route to be provided by the navigation apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an example of a screen to be displayed when the navigationapparatus provides the guidance or the like based on the route;

FIG. 6 is an example of a screen to be displaced when the navigationapparatus provides the guidance based on the route;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a procedure of the guidance process to beexecuted in the navigation apparatus;

FIG. 8 is an example of route searched results to be displayed on anavigation apparatus according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 9 is a setting table to be set in a navigation apparatus accordingto a modification of the second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SIGNS

100 Navigation apparatus

110 Display unit

111 Voice output unit

112 Voice input unit

113 Vibrator

114 GPS unit

115 Communication unit

116 Operating unit

117 Controller

120 Guidance controller

130 Display controller

140 Guidance voice controller

150 Vibration controller

160 Navigation information acquiring unit

200 Network

300 Navigation server

310 Map distributing unit

320 Map database

330 Route searching unit

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of a navigation apparatus, a navigation method,and a program according to the present invention will be explained indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a configuration of a network systemincluding a navigation apparatus according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the network system has anavigation apparatus 100, a network 200, and a navigation server 300.

An example of the network 200 is a mobile phone network or the Internet,and various data can be exchanged between the navigation apparatus 100and the navigation server 300 via the network 200.

The navigation apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment is aportable type having a function as a mobile phone, and has a displayunit 110, a voice output unit 111, a voice input unit 112, a vibrator113, a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit 114, a communication unit115, an operating unit 116, and a controller 117.

The display unit 110 has an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like,and displays various information, such as a map, based on display datato be supplied from the controller 117. The voice output unit 111 has aspeaker, and generates a voice based on voice data to be supplied fromthe controller 117.

The voice input unit 112 has a microphone, and generates voice datacorresponding to a sound emitted by a user or the like so as to outputthe voice data to the controller 117. The voice input unit 112 is usedfor inputting a voice of a user when the device is used as a telephone.

The vibrator 113 has a vibration motor or the like, and vibrates basedon control by the controller 117. A user having the navigation apparatus100 is informed of incoming calls and various information by thisvibration. The GPS unit 114 has a GPS antenna or the like, and outputsposition information based on information received from a satellite tothe controller 117.

The communication unit 115 has the similar configuration to that of acommunication unit of general mobile phones such as antennas, andtransmits/receives voice data, map data, and another various data withother communication terminals (mobile phone, web server, etc.) via amobile phone network of the network 200 based on the control by thecontroller 117. The operating unit 116 has an input unit such as a tenkey, and generates an operating signal according to the contents ofuser's operation so as to output the signal to the controller 117. Forexample, the user appropriately operates the operating unit 116, so asto input a guidance executing instruction for instructing guidance alonga route.

The controller 117 has storage units such as a CPU (Central ProcessingUnit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory), andexecutes programs stored in the storage units, so as to entirely controlthe navigation apparatus 100. That is, the controller 117 controls therespective units of the device so that the device serves as a mobilephone.

The controller 117 of the navigation apparatus 100 according to thefirst embodiment controls the respective units of the device so that thenavigation functions such as map display and guidance are implemented.More specifically, the controller 117 has a guidance controller 120, adisplay controller 130, a guidance voice controller 140, a vibrationcontroller 150, and a navigation information acquiring unit 160.

The display controller 130 generates map display data for displayingmaps based on map data distributed from the navigation server 300 so asto output the map display data to the display unit 110. The displaycontroller 130 generates display data for displaying character/graphicinformation for guidance and another information about navigation so asto output the information to the display unit 110. A map on which aroute for guided is displayed, route guidance character information suchas “turn right”, and the like are displayed on the display unit 110based on the display data generated by the display controller 130.

The guidance voice controller 140 outputs voice data corresponding to avoice emitted from the voice output unit 111 to the voice output unit111 at predetermined timing while the route guidance is being provided,so as to generate a guidance voice. For example, at the time when theuser of the navigation apparatus 100 is on a spot that is 30 metersshort of an intersection at which the user should turn right, theguidance voice controller 140 outputs voice data for generating aguidance voice such as “turn right at next intersection”.

The vibration controller 150 drives the vibrator 113 at predeterminingtiming, so as to vibrate the vibrator 113 in various patterns. Thenavigation apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment can providethe route guidance to the user according to vibration of variouspatterns. For example, the vibrator 113 is controlled so as to bevibrated in a vibration pattern that means the right direction, at thetime when the user of the navigation apparatus 100 is on the spot thatis 30 meters short of an intersection at which the user should turnright (for example, it is vibrated three times per second).Alternatively, the vibrator 113 is controlled so as to be vibrated in avibration pattern that means the left direction, at the time when theuser is on a spot that is 30 meters short of an intersection at whichthe user should turn left (for example, it is vibrated twice at aninterval of two seconds).

According to the first embodiment, the display unit 110, the voiceoutput unit 111, the vibrator 113, the display controller 130, theguidance voice controller 140, and the vibration controller 150configure the guidance unit that guides the user along a route. Theguidance controller 120 controls the guidance by the respective units.

The guidance controller 120 controls the respective units that guide theuser along a route so as to provide the guidance. More specifically, theguidance controller 120 controls the units based on current positioninformation acquired from the GPS unit 114 and a selected route for theguidance, so that the guidance such as display of guidance information,guidance by voice, guidance by vibration, and the like is provided.

The guidance controller 120 controls the units so that the guidancebased on the route is provided as mentioned above, but it does notcontrol the units so as to provide the guidance for all sections of theroute, and accepts the guidance execution instruction for only the walksection of the route. The guidance controller 120 controls the units sothat the guidance for the section of the route is provided when theguidance execution instruction is issued.

The navigation server 300 according to the first embodiment specifies adeparture place and the destination, so as to make the total routesearch including not only a walk section but also sections where thepublic transportation system is used including a departure place,boarding stations (or bus stop), public transportation systems to beused, stations to get off (or bus stop), and the destination. Forexample, when a certain departure place A and a destination B arespecified, a route from the departure place A to a station C (walk),from the station C to a station D (subway, oo line), from the station Dto a station E (JR, □□ line), from station the E to a bus stop F, andfrom the bus stop F to the destination B (walk) is automaticallysearched. In the walk section, the public transportation means are notused, and transportation means such as bicycles with which the user canmove arbitrarily are used.

When the guidance along the searched route from the departure place A tothe departure place B where plural kinds of transportation means areused is provided, the guidance controller 120 accepts the guidanceexecution instruction for only the walk sections from A to C and from Fto B from the user. The guidance controller 120 makes a control so thatvoice guidance, vibration guidance, and the like are provided for theinstructed sections.

The navigation information acquiring unit 160 accesses to the navigationserver 300 via the communication unit 115 and the network 200, andrequests transmission of information necessary for the navigation suchas map data for displaying a map on the display unit 110 and datarepresenting the searched results of the routes from the departure placeto the destination.

More specifically, when a map including a current position is to bedisplayed, the navigation information acquiring unit 160 periodicallyacquires information representing the current position from the GPS unit114, and transmits the request for the transmission of the map dataincluding the current position information to the navigation server 300.When the navigation information acquiring unit 160 has already receivedthe map data including the current position, it does not make thetransmission request, and only when it does not have the map dataincluding the current position, it makes the transmission request.

The navigation information acquiring unit 160 transmits a request forthe route search including information necessary for the route searchsuch as a departure place (current position can be automaticallydetermined as the departure place, or the user can set the departureplace by input), destination, and other search conditions (for example,short required time, low required cost, etc.) to the navigation server300. The navigation information acquiring unit 160 acquires the map dataand the route searched results transmitted from the navigation server300 according to such requests, so as to supply the data to the displaycontroller 130 or the like.

The navigation apparatus 100 has the above configuration. The navigationserver 300 is explained below. The navigation server 300 has a mapdistributing unit 310, a map database (DB) 320, and a route searchingunit 330.

The map database 320 stores map data. Upon reception of a transmissionrequest from the navigation apparatus 100 (or another navigationapparatus), the map distributing unit 310 acquires map data including aspot shown in the current position information included in thetransmission request, from the map database. The map distributing unit310 transmits the map data via the network 200 to the navigationapparatus 100 as a request source.

Upon reception of the route search request from the navigation apparatus100, the route searching unit 330 searches for a plurality of routesfrom the departure place to the destination included in the request soas to transmit the route searched results via the network 200 to thenavigation apparatus 100 as the request source.

The route searching unit 330 of the navigation server 300 according tothe first embodiment suitably combines plural kinds of transportationmeans such as walk, public transportation systems such as trains andbuss, so as to search for an optimal route from the departure place tothe destination. As the route search technology using varioustransportation means, for example, a technology disclosed in JapanesePatent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-258184 can be used.

The network system having the navigation apparatus 100 and thenavigation server 300 according to the first embodiment has the aboveconfiguration. The operations of the navigation apparatus 100 and thenavigation server 300 at the time of executing a navigation methodincluding the route search using the navigation apparatus 100 areexplained below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7.

As shown in FIG. 2, the user inputs the search conditions such as thedeparture place and the destination into the navigation apparatus 100via the operating unit 116 so as to instruct for the route search.Accordingly, the navigation apparatus 100 transmits the route searchrequest including the input search conditions such as the departureplace and the destination to the navigation server 300 via the network200 (step Sa1).

The navigation server 300 that receives the route search request fromthe navigation apparatus 100 makes the route search according to thesearch conditions included in the route search request (step Sa2), andtransmits the route searched results to the navigation apparatus 100 viathe network 200 (step Sa3). In the navigation server 300, the departureplace and the destination are specified, so that the route in whichsections, using plural kinds of transportation means such as walk andbus, and walk and train, are combined can be searched. The routesearched results are transmitted.

In the navigation apparatus 100 that receives the route searchedresults, the route searched results are displayed on the display unit110 (step Sa4). One example of the route searched results to bedisplayed on the display unit 110 of the navigation apparatus 100 isshown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, in this example, four routes (aroute “depart at 15:30, arrive at 16:11”, a route “depart at 15:33,arrive at 16:13”, etc.) are displayed in a list as the route searchedresults, with detailed contents of the respective routes.

FIG. 3 depicts the contents on the screen to be displayed regardless ofwhether the contents fall within a display screen size of the navigationapparatus 100. That is, when the display screen size is smaller than thedisplay shown in FIG. 3, the contents are scrolled to be displayed, andthus all the contents can be viewed.

The first route in the example shown in FIG. 3 is a route from thedeparture place to the destination in the order of using walking,subway, and walking. More specifically, the first route includes (1) awalk section (current position to Nezu Station, Exit 2), (2) a sectionusing Chiyoda Line (Nezu Station to Hibiya Station), (3) a section usingHibiya Line (Hibiya Station to Kamiyacho Station), and (4) a walksection (Kamiyacho Station, Exit 1 to home (destination)). The detailsof the respective sections on the route are displayed.

When the details of the route including the four sections (1) to (4) aredisplayed, soft buttons 401 such as “Start route guidance” and “Checkroute map” are displayed for the walk sections (1) and (4). The useroperates the operating unit 116 of the navigation apparatus 100 andclicks the soft buttons 401 so as to input the instruction such as“Start route guidance” or “Check route map”.

On the other hand, the soft button such as “Start route guidance” is notdisplayed for the sections using subway. Although not shown in FIG. 3,according to the first embodiment, the soft button such as “Start routeguidance” is not displayed for sections using public transportationsystems such as buses and trains other than the subway, and theinstruction “Start route guidance” is not accepted for these sections.

The operation of the navigation apparatus 100 based on an instructioninvolving a route selection by the user after a plurality of routes aredisplayed is explained below with reference to FIG. 4. As shown in FIG.4, the controller 117 determines whether the user issues any instructionvia the operating unit 116 (step Sb1).

When the instruction is issued, the controller 117 determines whether“Check route map” is clicked (step Sb2), and when “Check route map” isclicked, the controller 117 makes a control so that the map including adeparture spot of the selected route is displayed on the display unit110 (step Sb3).

One example of the display contents on the display unit 110 when “Checkroute map” is clicked is shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, the mapincluding the departure spot (“S” in FIG. 5) is displayed, and the routefrom the departure spot (thick line in FIG. 5) is displayed. A “submenu”button is displayed on a lower side of the map.

The controller 117 determines whether the “submenu” is clicked (stepSb4), and when it is determined that the submenu is clicked, thecontroller 117 makes a control so that a screen shown in FIG. 6 isdisplayed on the display unit 110. As shown in FIG. 6, soft buttons forinstructing commands such as “Start route guidance”, “ON currentposition check”, “Set” for various setting, and “Reroute” forinstructing another search for the route are displayed on this screen(step Sb5).

The controller 117 carries out the above display and determines whether“ON/OFF current position check” is clicked (step Sb6), and when clicked,switches the state of the current position display that is currently setinto a different display state (step Sb7). That is, when the currentposition is set to be displayed at that moment, the controller 117switches the state of the display into a state that the current positionis not displayed, and when the current position is set not to bedisplayed, the controller 117 switches the state into the state that thecurrent position is displayed.

The controller 117 determines whether “Set” is clicked (step Sb8), andwhen “Set” is clicked, displays a screen for the other various settingson the display unit 110. When the user issues an instruction forchanging the setting or the like, the controller 117 executes a settingchange process (step Sb9).

The controller 117 determines whether “Start route guidance” is clicked(step Sb10), and when “Start route guidance” is clicked, starts theguidance for the selected route (step Sb11). Further, the controller 117determines whether “Reroute” is clicked (step Sb12), and when “Reroute”is clicked, requests the navigation server 300 to search for anotherroute (step Sb13).

When “Reroute” is not clicked, the controller 117 determines whether aninstruction to return to a main menu is issued (step Sb14), and when theinstruction is issued, the screen returns to the main menu.

On the other hand, when not “Check route map” but “Start route guidance”is clicked in the state that the display shown in FIG. 3 is provided(“No” at step Sb2) and “Check route map” is clicked, the guidance forthe selected route is started (step Sb15).

When the instruction to start the route guidance is issued, thecontroller 117 (guidance controller 120) controls the respective unitsas explained below, and provides various guidance so that the user canmove along the selected route. As shown in FIG. 7, the user is informedof a message about starting of the guidance (step Sc1). Such a messagecan be given by using a voice, by using display, or by using the both.

When the message about the starting of the guidance is given, thecontroller 117 acquires the current position information from the GPSunit 114 (step Sc2), and determines whether the current positiondeviates from a position of the selected route (step Sc3). The deviationfrom the selected route is detected when a deviation amount is more thana predetermined reference value.

When determined that the current position deviates from the route, thecontroller 117 determines whether the selected route is to be rerouted(step Sc4), and when the selected route is to be rerouted, requests thenavigation server to search for the route where the current position isthe departure place (step Sc5). On the other hand, when the selectedroute is not to be rerouted, the process returns to step Sc2. When thereis deviation, a message for urging the user to issue the instruction ofreroute may be posted to the user, and the determination on whether theselected route is rerouted may be made based on the instruction.Alternatively, determination may be made depending on whether automaticrerouting at the time when the current position deviates from the routeis set.

On the other hand, when determined that the current position does notdeviate from the route, the controller 117 executes a process fordisplaying a map including the current position acquired from the GPSunit 114 (step Sc6). The control of displaying a map including thecurrent position is as described in the explanation of theconfiguration. The controller 117 makes a control for the route guidance(step Sc7). The control for the route guidance is a control forgenerating a voice message, posting a notice by vibration, or displayingcharacter information and symbols on the display unit 110 when the useris on a spot that is a predetermined distance short of an intersectionat which the user should turn.

The controller 117 determines whether the current position acquired fromthe GPS unit 114 is the destination (step Sc8), and when the currentposition is not the destination, the process returns to step Sc2. On theother hand, when the current position is the destination, the controller117 posts an end message about arrival at the destination to the user(step Sc9), and ends the route guidance process.

The navigation apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment acceptsthe guidance start instruction for the walk section from the user, andwhen the guidance start instruction is issued, provides the guidance sothat the user can move along the route of the walk section using guidingmeans such as display, voice, and vibration.

According to the first embodiment, when the user specifies a departureplace (current position or an arbitrarily specified spot) anddestination so as to make the route search request, the route includingcombined sections, where plural kinds of transportation means such aswalk, and public transportation systems such as trains and buss areused, is posted to the user. The connected route from the departureplace to the destination using various transportation means, therefore,can be searched without the need for the user to specify conditions asto what transportation means is used in what section.

According to the first embodiment, the guidance using voice and the likethat enables the user to move along one route can be provided, but theinstruction for the guidance for the sections other than the walksection (sections where the public transportation systems are used)cannot be provided. That is, guidance execution instructions are notaccepted for the route of such sections, and thus the guidance is notgiven.

While the user is moving along the route of the section using the publictransportation system, for example, the route of the section fromAwajicho Station to Kasumigaseki Station (Marunouchi Line), namely, theuser is on the train, the user does not need the guidance, and voiceguidance and vibration guidance in the trains are sometimesinconvenient.

According to the first embodiment, from such a viewpoint, while oneroute using various transportation means such as walk and publictransportation systems can be searched, the instruction for the guidanceonly for the walk section is accepted so as to provide the guidance onlywhere it is necessary, instead of providing the guidance for all thesections of the route.

When the guidance of the route from a departure place to the destinationusing various transportation means is provided, the instruction for theguidance for a section where the guidance is effective (according to thefirst embodiment, the walk section) is accepted. When the user makes theguidance request, the guidance by a voice or the like for that sectionis provided. The instruction for the guidance for a section where theguidance is not necessary or should not be provided (according to thefirst embodiment, the section using trains or the like) is not accepted,and thus the guidance is not provided.

With the above arrangement, an optimal guidance along the route usingplural kinds of transportation means can be provided, in which theguidance is provided for a necessary section, but is not provided for anunnecessary section.

Second Embodiment

A navigation apparatus according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention is explained below. The navigation apparatus according to thesecond embodiment has the similar configuration to that of thenavigation apparatus 100 (see FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment,but the guidance control by the controller 117 is different from thefirst embodiment. According to the second embodiment, like referencenumerals designate like parts, and the explanation thereof is omitted.

According to the first embodiment, the instruction for the guidance onlyin the route of the walk section is accepted, and when the instructionis issued, the guidance is provided for only the instructed section. Thecontroller 117 of the navigation apparatus according to the secondembodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it accepts aninstruction as to whether the guidance is provided individually in allthe sections using various transportation means such as walk, bus, andtrain, and makes a control so that the guidance is provided for theinstructed section.

According to the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment,the route searched results are displayed on the display unit 110 in thenavigation apparatus that receives the route searched results. Oneexample of the route searched results to be displayed on the displayunit 110 in the navigation apparatus according to the second embodimentis shown in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8, in this example, four routes (aroute “depart at 15:30, arrive at 16:11”, a route “depart at 15:33,arrive at 16:13”, etc.) are displayed in a list as the route searchedresults, with detailed contents of the respective routes.

According to the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment,the routes to be searched and displayed are routes from a departureplace to the destination using a plurality of transportation means. Morespecifically, the first route includes (1) a walk section (currentposition to Nezu Station, Exit 2), (2) a section using Chiyoda Line(Nezu Station to Hibiya Station), (3) a section using Hibiya Line(Hibiya Station to Kamiyacho Station), and (4) a walk section (KamiyachoStation, Exit 1 to home (destination)). The details of the respectivesections on the route are displayed.

According to the second embodiment, when the details of the routeincluding the four sections (1) to (4) are displayed, the soft buttons401 such as “Start route guidance” and “Check route map” are displayedfor all the walk sections (1), (2), (3), and (4). When the user operatesthe operating unit 116 of the navigation apparatus 100 so as to clickthe soft buttons 401, the user can input an instruction such as “Startroute guidance” or “Check route map” individually for the respectivesections. That is, the user can issue an instruction as to whether theguidance is provided for the respective sections constituting thesearched route from the departure place to the destination.

When the “Start route guidance” button is clicked for a certain section,the controller 117 accepts the guidance start instruction, and controlsthe respective units so that guidance is provided for that section. Thecontents of the guidance control are similar to those according to thefirst embodiment (see FIG. 7), and thus the detailed explanation thereofis omitted.

According to the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment,when the user specifies a departure place (current position orarbitrarily specified spot) and the destination so as to request for theroute search, a route including combined sections using plural kinds oftransportation means such as walk, and public transportation systemssuch as trains and buses is posted to the user.

According to the second embodiment, the instruction as to whether theguidance along the entire route including the sections using pluralkinds of transportation means is provided, is not accepted, but theinstruction as to whether the guidance is provided for each section isaccepted, and thus the guidance is provided only for the instructedsection. That is, the user can select whether the guidance is providedfor each section, and the guidance can be provided only for a sectiondesired by the user.

For example, in the following case, it is very effective to individuallyset whether the guidance is provided for each section. When a route suchthat the user departs from home, gets on a train at the nearest station(including transfer), gets off the train at a station near thedestination, and walks to the destination is searched, the user isfamiliar of the route of the section from home to the nearest station.Therefore, the guidance is not necessary for this section. When theuser, however, has never used the route of the section using the trainsincluding transfer (or seldom uses such route), nor the route of thewalk section from the station to get off to the destination (or seldomuses such route), the guidance is not necessary for the section fromhome to the nearest station, but is necessary for the other sections.

The present invention is not limited by the above embodiments and may bevariously modified as exemplified in the following modifications.

(First Modification)

According to the first embodiment, when the guidance is provided for theroute from the departure place to the destination using varioustransportation means, the guidance instruction for the walking sectionis accepted, and when the user requests for the guidance, the voiceguidance or the like is provided for the walk section. On the otherhand, the guidance instruction for the section using the transportationmeans other than walk is not accepted, and the guidance is not provided.In this manner, the guidance instruction only for the walk section canbe accepted, and the guidance for the sections using the othertransportation means can be prevented. However, the instruction for theeffective guidance for the sections using specified kinds (one orplural) of the transportation means other than walk (the first section)may be accepted, and when the user issues the instruction, the guidancemay be provided. Alternatively, the guidance instruction for thesections using transportation means other than specified means where theguidance is not much effective (second section) may not be accepted, sothat the guidance is not provided.

(Second Modification)

According to the second embodiment, the soft buttons such as “Startroute guidance” are displayed for the respective sections constitutingthe entire route from the departure place to the destination, and theinstruction from the user is accepted. Alternatively, whether theguidance is provided for each section may be set in advance according toinstructions from the user, and when the current position acquired bythe GPS unit 114 reaches the section where the guidance is set to beprovided, the guidance may be automatically started.

For example as shown in FIG. 9, the user issues an instruction as towhether the guidance is provided for each section using each kind oftransportation means in advance, so as to set this instruction contentsin a setting table. By referring to the setting table, the controller117 of the navigation apparatus can make a control so that the guidanceis automatically provided when the current position acquired by the GPSunit 114 reaches the section where the guidance is set to be provided.

As shown in the setting shown in FIG. 9, the searched route includes (1)a walk section (current position to Nezu Station, Exit 2), (2) a sectionusing Chiyoda Line (from Nezu Station to Hibiya Station), (3) a sectionusing Hibiya Line (from Hibiya Station to Kamiyacho Station), and (4) awalk section (from Kamiyacho Station, Exit 1 to home (destination)). Inthis case, the controller 117 of the navigation apparatus operates inthe following manner.

Since the guidance is set to be provided for the walk sections in thesetting table, when the current position acquired by the GPS unit 114 ison the section from the departure place to Nezu station, the guidance iscontrolled to be provided. Since the guidance is set to be not providedfor the sections using subway, after the current position acquired bythe GPS unit 114 reaches the Nezu station, the guidance is not providedfor the sections to the Kamiyacho Station (sections (2) and (3)). Whenthe user reaches the Kamiyacho Station, the controller 117 starts theguidance for the section from Kamiyacho Station to home.

With the above setting, the user does not have to perform an operationsuch as the instruction as to whether the guidance is provided for therespective sections every time when the route is searched. The guidancecan be automatically provided for the sections that require the presetguidance.

(Third Modification)

According to the first and the second embodiments, the navigationapparatus 100 has the mobile phone function, and communicates with thenavigation server 300 via the network 200 so as to acquire the map data,the route searched results, and the like. The navigation apparatus,however, can have a storage unit that stores map data and a route searchprocessor that searches for routes, so that the map data can be acquiredand the route search process can be executed only by the navigationapparatus.

(Fourth Modification)

According to the first and the second embodiments, the CPU of thecontroller executes the process including the guidance control accordingto a program stored in the storage unit such as the ROM. A program thatmakes the computer execute the similar process, however, can be providedto the user via a communication line such as the internet, or such aprogram can be recorded in a computer readable recording medium such asa CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) so as to be provided to theuser. This process can be constituted as the navigation apparatus thatis realized by an exclusive hardware circuit so as to be provided to theuser.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the navigation apparatus, the navigation method, andthe program according to the present invention are effective in mobilenavigation.

1. A navigation apparatus comprising: a route acquiring unit thatacquires a route that connects a departure place and a destination, theroute including a plurality of section routes for which different kindsof transportations are used; a guiding unit that performs a guidancebased on the route acquired by the route acquiring unit; and a guidancecontroller that receives an instruction whether to perform the guidancefor each of the section routes, and controls the guiding unit to performthe guidance for a section route for which an instruction to perform theguidance is received.
 2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the guidance controller displays soft buttons for issuing theinstruction to perform the guidance for each of the section routes.
 3. Anavigation apparatus comprising: a route acquiring unit that acquires aroute that connects a departure place and a destination, the routeincluding a first section-route for which a first transportation is usedand a second section-route for which a second transportation is used; aguiding unit that performs a guidance based on the route acquired by theroute acquiring unit; and a guidance controller that receives aninstruction whether to perform the guidance for the first section-route,and controls the guiding unit to perform the guidance for a sectionroute for which an instruction to perform the guidance is received,whereas not to perform the guidance for the second section-route.
 4. Thenavigation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a publictransportation system is used as the second transportation for thesecond section-route, and a transportation including a traveling on footother than the public transportation system is used as the firsttransportation for the first section-route.
 5. The navigation apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein a traveling on foot is used as the firsttransportation for the first section-route, and a public transportationsystem is used as the second transportation for the secondsection-route.
 6. A navigation method comprising: acquiring a route thatconnects a departure place and a destination, the route including aplurality of section routes for which different kinds of transportationsare used; receiving an instruction whether to perform the guidance foreach of the section routes; and performing the guidance for a sectionroute for which an instruction to perform the guidance is received.
 7. Anavigation method comprising: acquiring a route that connects adeparture place and a destination, the route including a firstsection-route for which a first transportation is used and a secondsection-route for which a second transportation is used; receiving aninstruction whether to perform the guidance for the first section-route;and performing the guidance for a section route for which an instructionto perform the guidance is received, whereas not to perform the guidancefor the second section-route.
 8. A computer readable recording mediumthat stores a program for a navigation apparatus including a guidingunit that performs a guidance based on a route, wherein the programcauses a computer to execute: acquiring a route that connects adeparture place and a destination, the route including a plurality ofsection routes for which different kinds of transportations are used;receiving an instruction whether to perform the guidance for each of thesection routes; and performing the guidance for a section route forwhich an instruction to perform the guidance is received.
 9. A computerreadable recording medium that stores a program for a navigationapparatus including a guiding unit that performs a guidance based on aroute, wherein the program causes a computer to execute: acquiring aroute that connects a departure place and a destination, the routeincluding a first section-route for which a first transportation is usedand a second section-route for which a second transportation is used;receiving an instruction whether to perform the guidance for the firstsection-route; and performing the guidance for a section route for whichan instruction to perform the guidance is received, whereas not toperform the guidance for the second section-route.